The Gryphon streaked through space cruising at a safe speed of warp
nine, emergency speed on most Starfleet vessels but safe for the newest
invention of the fleet. The Command Staff and Department Heads met in the Ready
Room for their debriefing and mission assignments. Captain Seals stood by a map
on the view screen and had his laser pointer in hand.

"All right, officers, this is the skinny. As you know, we have been
given the unenviable task of slamming it to the Dominion, with this ship as the
strong arm of the fleet. I handpicked all of you to serve aboard and I expect
only the finest," he said as he paced to his left.

"You are responsible for the lives of the crew members under your
departments and I am responsible for you and them, so I don’t want any
unnecessary casualties or incidents. I am confident in your abilities or you
wouldn't be sitting in those chairs right now; you are some of Starfleet’s
finest. I am proud to be your Captain. With you and me working as a team, we
will deal a fatal blow to our enemy at hand."

Seals walked over to the view screen again, pointing the laser pointer at the
wormhole projected on the map. "Our first mission is to dock at Deep Space
Nine where we will have a one day liberty before departing for the Gamma
Quadrant. Captain Sisko thinks that we are going on some type of survey mission
and won’t suspect anything; Starfleet Intelligence has seen to that.

"Department Heads, you are responsible for your crews’ conduct on
board the station. I don’t want them starting any